Massachusetts Slow Growth Initiative
The Massachusetts Slow Growth Initiative (SGI) works to help Massachusetts residents, communities and the states collective future. Our action plan focuses on three critical areas: a truly sustainable energy plan; a sustainable development plan and advocating for economic development that does not rely on constant, unsustainable growth. SGI can help communities achieve a truly sustainable future and our efforts are critical for Massachusetts to maintain a vibrant economy and high quality of life.

By prioritizing redevelopment over new construction and public policies that make growth pay for growth, the financial and non-financial benefits are undeniable. By adhering to old ideas, ill-conceived policies and myths of growth, we risk what we value most – our future.

NECSP intends to learn from our experiences in Massachusetts and make efforts to seed Slow Growth Initiatives in the other 5 states as well.

Grassroots Outreach, Education, and Action
Our Grassroots Outreach, Education and Action program provides public education lectures, presentations, panel discussions and classroom visits. We also table at community events like fairs, conferences and field days.
In a cultural climate where population issues have been marginalized – even as the public gains unprecedented awareness and concern about sustainability – our outreach program aims to return this core component of the sustainability puzzle to the regional, US domestic and international agenda.

Our goal is to achieve widespread public understanding of the fact that the US domestic and global human population continues to grow at an alarming rate, of how these problems work as a multiplier of our sustainability challenges, and most importantly of the clear and socially just means available to mitigate the problem. We also work to move educated citizens toward action to support practical and policy solutions to population growth problems and to engage in public discourse around long term population and sustainability issues.

In the 21st century, citizens are awakening to the need to make wise and sober commitments to planning for and investing in a truly sustainable future. Our grassroots program is helping to lay the foundation by opening the discourse on sustainability and one of its basic elements – the achievement of a stable human population. For more information, or to get the dialogue going in your area, contact our Grassroots Outreach Coordinator, Sarah Harpster, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .